Rotten fish seized

Corporation Health Department officials seized perished fish sold at various points in Palayamkottai on Tuesday.

Following repeated complaints on the sale of rotten fish at Samathanapuram and other areas, the corporation officials conducted surprise check in these roadside shops and seized the rotten fish.

As maggots had developed in the dried fish kept for sale, it was also confiscated and destroyed in the presence of public.

Into the drainage

Even as the quality of the fish being sold in these roadside shops is far from satisfaction, the products are kept for sale on a small makeshift steel platform put across the drainage.

Most of the times, the waste of the fish is being dumped in the drainage, the residents near the fish stalls allege.

“Based on the demand, the fish will be kept in the iceboxes for five or six days before being brought to the market for sale and hence most of the fish will be of inferior quality with foul smell,” said S. Karuppasamy Pandian, who buys fish from the Samathanapuram market at least twice a week.

Since sale of marine products will be dull on Tuesdays, the quantity caught by the officials was less.

“If the quality of fish is not good, it will be seized and destroyed. Our raids will continue,” said Food Inspector A.R. Sankaralingam.